Chinese steel mills face tighter credit terms

Market: Coking coal, Metals
21/06/13

London, 21 June (Argus) — Chinese steel mills face increasingly stringent terms to access credit as the recent surge in interbank lending rates in the country has restricted credit availability.

The Shanghai interbank offered rate (Shibor) was still at elevated levels today at 8.49pc. This was well down on yesterday's peak when it spiked to 13.44pc. China's central bank had injected liquidity in order to reduce the Shibor to more stable levels.

The recent run up in interest rates has squeezed credit availability in China. Asian-based iron ore traders told Argus that the squeeze in credit availability was leading to the cancellation of some transactions after expected credit was withdrawn. It was also affecting Chinese mills' purchasing decisions.

“Our counterparties have become much more bearish recently,” an international trader said. “This may partly explain the recent preference for [Yuan-denominated] secondary market transactions over the seaborne iron ore market.”

The outlook for the sector has deteriorated with slowing economic growth likely to feed through into weaker demand for steel.

The terms of trade credit for deals with the Chinese steel sector had tightened at the end of February, one trade credit provider said.

“We always assess applications on a case by case basis. We do closely monitor developments in the Chinese steel sector,” he said.

China is the world's largest importer of iron ore. It imported 68mn t of iron ore in May alone. China is also a sizeable importer of coking coal, importing 6.5mn t in May.

Send comments to feedback@argusmedia.com
ne/ms 3.1

If you would like to review other ArgusMedia.com content options, request more information about Argus' energy news, data and analysis services.

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

29/05/26

Brazil renews quota policy for import steel

Sao Paulo, 29 May (Argus) — Brazil will extend its steel import quota regime for another 12 months from June, the foreign trade chamber Camex's executive management committee (Gecex) said on 28 May. Steel imports within the quota threshold will remain subject to reduced 10-16pc tariffs, while a 25pc duty applies to volumes exceeding the quota. The quotas cover 19 steel products across flat, long and tubular steel segments, regardless of origin. The foreign trade authority assigned individual quota volumes for each product based on historical import levels. Gecex will also increase quota volumes for four coated flat steel products by 15pc, it said. The adjustment aims to avoid double protection, as the products became subject to antidumping duties in February 2026. Brazil imposed AD duties on imports of cold-rolled coil (CRC), hot-dipped galvanized (HDG) and other coated steel products from China earlier this year. Quota allocations will renew every four months through June 2027. Importers will be able to access lower tariffs on around 540,000 metric tonnes (t) of steel during each of the three periods. Steelmakers' association Instituto Aco Brasil requested that Gecex raise import tariffs to 35pc, which is the country's highest rate at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The group also proposed to eliminate the current quota system so the higher duty would apply to all imports. Gecex ultimately rejected the proposals, citing concerns that the measure could increase costs for downstream manufacturing sectors that consume steel products. The Brazilian quota regime was introduced in 2024 to curb rising steel imports and will now remain in effect for a third consecutive year. By Isabel Filgueiras Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more

News

Australia's BHP iron ore port workers set to strike

29/05/26

News

29/05/26

Australia's BHP iron ore port workers set to strike

Sydney, 29 May (Argus) — Electrical workers at global mining firm BHP's iron ore port operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (WA) plan to strike as early as June if a ballot of union members authorises protected industrial action. Electrical Trades Union (ETU) members working at Port Hedland are planning to hold strike action after six months of failed negotiations with BHP, the union said on 29 May. BHP has made contingency plans to ensure operations can continue safely and reliably if a strike goes ahead at the port, a spokesperson told Argus . The ETU has lodged an application for a protected action ballot order with Australia's national workplace relations tribunal, the Fair Work Commission (FWC), which would authorise the union's 200 port staff members to legally strike. BHP is negotiating a new enterprise agreement for its port operations team, which will cover a total of about 450 port employees, excluding contractors, Argus understands. Port Hedland is the world's largest bulk iron ore export port and is a key export hub in BHP's WA iron ore supply chain. The firm produced 257mn t of iron ore in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2025. By Emma Partis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

EU SiMn prices unlikely to move on filled quotas

26/05/26

News

26/05/26

EU SiMn prices unlikely to move on filled quotas

London, 26 May (Argus) — The EU's tariff-free quotas (TRQs) for silico-manganese imported from India and material imported from "other countries" was exhausted on the first day of the third safeguard period last week, but tighter availability of the alloy in the near term is unlikely to drive sharp price increases as end-user demand remains low. The quota period renewed for the third time on 18 May. Importers of silico-manganese from India, one of the largest external suppliers to the EU, immediately submitted 41,993t for clearance, exceeding the allotted quota of 31,959t by 10,034t. The Indian material was fully allocated as of 22 May, but only 76pc of the material submitted for clearance has been allocated within the quota. The rest has been cleared as out-of-quota material. The EU instituted safeguard measures on silico-manganese, ferro-manganese, ferro-silicon, and silico-magnesium on 18 November to protect European ferro-alloy producers from more affordable third-country imports. The safeguard measures comprise country-dependent TRQs combined with an out-of-quota variable duty applied to material imported in excess of the quota. The variable duty will be the difference between the established price threshold for the product in question and the net free-at-EU frontier price, which is equivalent to the cif price. The safeguard allocation is shared among importers rather than operated on a purely first-come, first-served basis, which means that many or most importers with Indian material currently awaiting clearance will be forced to pay the minimum import price for a portion of their imports. The minimum import price for silico-manganese is €1,392/t. That cif-equivalent price is €287/t above the Argus silico-manganese assessment of €1,080-1,130/t ddp Europe works on 21 May. One trader attempted to clear several thousand tonnes of silico-manganese on the first day. He will have to pay a 600pc increase on 25pc of his material, the trader said, netting out to an extra €120/t across his total imports. Silico-manganese prices increased by €30/t on 21 May on upward pressure from importers seeking to pass duty costs onto the consumer. In the short term, some suppliers have increased their prices by €50/t, and are now holding onto material and watching what will happen. "This doesn't mean that the customers will accept higher prices immediately, because there will always be someone sitting on cheaper units or unsold material, particularly for smaller quantities," the trader said. But demand from end users has been tepid in 2026. Because the possibility of safeguards was known well in advance of implementation, most end users concluded contracts for this year or imported significant quantities of material ahead of the implementation of safeguards. Larger end users are not in the spot market currently because they are covered by their contracts. And availability is not fully constrained as importers have started to seek alternative sources of quota-free supply to traditional mainstays such as India. The quota for "other countries", which comprises developing countries that do not have country-specific quotas, has been exhausted in both the second and third quota periods. The second period quota of 18,337t was exhausted on 19 March, well before the completion of the quarter. For the present quarter, the quota of 18,956t was exhausted on 21 May. Norway, where production is limited to a few large producers, filled its allotted quotas quickly in the second quota period that started on 18 February. The Norwegian quota of 35,859t for that period was exhausted on 9 April, with over a month left before the quota renewal. For the third period, the Norwegian quota was 37,068t as of 22 May. A balance of 26,603t remained, with 116t awaiting allocation. The Zambian quota of 7,882t for the current period had a remaining balance of 4,288t with 1,277t awaiting allocation as of 22 May. This was an increase in imports from the second period, which closed with a remaining balance of 4,288t. Some market participants do not expect to see a significant impact from quota exhaustion on pricing until end users' stocks are fully drawn down. Combined with reduced consumption in the summer period as mills decrease or pause production for annual maintenance, the main impact of the safeguards is unlikely to be felt until the autumn. FeSi, FeMn less impacted by quota The ferro-silicon and ferro-manganese quotas for the current quota period and for previous quotas had not been filled as of 22 May. The comparatively high interest in moving silico-manganese compared with high-carbon ferro-manganese can in part be attributed to hesitation on the part of importers to add the additional bureaucratic burden of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to their operations. Silico-manganese is not subject to CBAM. "I think many traders got a bit cautious on ferro-manganese because of CBAM, and honestly that's what I did as well. I focused on silico-manganese because I didn't have to worry about CBAM," a second trader said. Although silico-manganese prices are roughly at parity with high-carbon ferro-manganese, ferro-manganese prices are also being supported by CBAM. In terms of liquidity and demand, silico-manganese is currently exceeding high-carbon ferro-manganese. By Maeve Flaherty Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Demand for India Mn alloy export falters, surplus rises

25/05/26

News

25/05/26

Demand for India Mn alloy export falters, surplus rises

Mumbai, 25 May (Argus) — India's manganese alloys sector is under significant pressure from falling export demand, mounting domestic overcapacity and narrowing margins, chairman of the Indian Ferro Alloy Producers' Association (IFAPA) Manish Sarda told Argus . Prices are unlikely to rebound until geopolitical tensions in the Middle East subside, he added. Prices of silico-manganese and ferro-manganese have fallen sharply and may decline further, until geopolitical tensions in the Middle East subside. And producers that are facing capital constraints may sell below production costs to maintain operations, Sarda said last week. Argus assessed 60pc silico-manganese at $795-810/t fob India on 21 May compared with $910-930/t fob levels in mid-April. Similarly, 65pc silico-manganese prices fell to $880-910/t fob levels on 21 May from $1,000-1,020/t fob on mid-April. India's domestic 60-pc silico-manganese prices dropped by 14,000 rupee/t ($146.92/t) from mid-April to Rs75,000-76,000/t ex-works on 21 May. Assessments for 70pc and 75pc ferro-manganese were at Rs78,000-79,000/t and Rs84,500-85,500/t, respectively, on 21 May, down by Rs7,000/t and Rs11,000/t from April. "I wouldn't be surprised if prices drop another Rs1,000/t beyond this," Sarda said, noting that liquidity constraints are forcing producers to prioritise cash flow over profitability. But producers with captive power retain a cost advantage and some margin buffer. Prices briefly increased in early April, when war-related stockpiling supported prices. But prices reversed quickly. Higher freight costs, tighter vessel availability, weaker export demand and a rise in domestic capacity forced some producers to cut prices aggressively to retain export volumes, despite a depreciation of the rupee, which would typically support exports otherwise. Silico-manganese hit harder Weak export demand puts greater pressure on the Indian silico-manganese sector given that silico-manganese is widely produced in India and that India is the largest seaborne trader. Only a small number of Indian companies produce ferro-manganese for the specialised steel market. Higher freight and fuel costs have further reduced export competitiveness. The Middle East, previously a key export market, has experienced plant closures and a collapse in demand because of capital shortages and conflict, causing a sharper price fall of silico-manganese. Some Indian plants have reduced or stopped operations because of financial stress. Price recovery depends on stability and reconstruction in the Middle East. "Until we see a complete stoppage of war and reconstruction happening in the Middle East we cannot see exports coming up for Indian producers," Sarda said. Overcapacity driving the downturn India has installed ferro-alloy capacity of about 5.5mn t/yr, while domestic demand is no more than 1.5mn t/yr. The country exports around 1.4mn t/yr, making it the world's largest exporter of silico-manganese and one of the largest exporters of ferro-manganese. EU safeguard quotas are already limiting Indian shipments to Europe, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will add further costs. Indian producers will eventually need to adapt and reduce their carbon cost exposure, but the near-term effect on competitiveness is negative. "Any cost that comes onto the producer on the basis of CBAM is not going to make the product competitive," Sarda said. Sarda is optimistic that the entry of state-run mining firm OMC to the manganese ore market could help reduce Indian alloys sector's dependence on imported ore. OMC will need time to scale up but could offer logistical advantages for producers based in India's eastern and southern regions sourcing ore from the state of Odisha. State-owned mining firm MOIL is the largest manganese ore producer in India, with output of about 1.5mn t/yr. India is the second-largest buyer of manganese ore behind China, importing nearly 7mn t/yr. Access to globally competitive power tariffs remains essential for the ferro-alloy industry, as electricity is the largest cost component. The removal of import duties on manganese ore is also a key requirement, since these duties add unnecessary costs given India's reliance on imports. Policy discussions on both issues are ongoing, but progress has been slow, Sarda said. Looking forward, Sarda expects a cautiously stable third quarter, with downside risks and continued export pressure resulting from uncertainties in the Middle East. Sarda is also the managing director of Sarda Metals and Energy. Sarda Metals and Energy currently operates three furnaces at its Vizag plant — two 36 mega volt ampere (MVA) furnace and one 40 MVA furnace. It has received approvals for adding three more furnaces. By Deepika Singh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Korea’s Ecopro signs Li hydroxide automaker supply deal

25/05/26

News

25/05/26

Korea’s Ecopro signs Li hydroxide automaker supply deal

Singapore, 25 May (Argus) — Major South Korean lithium-ion battery cathode active material and lithium hydroxide manufacturer EcoPro's lithium arm Ecopro Innovation has signed its first direct lithium hydroxide supply contract with an automaker. Ecopro Innovation will supply 12,000t of lithium hydroxide over a four-year period to an undisclosed "global automaker", said the company on 22 May. Its production base in Hungary's Debrecen likely played a part in it winning the contract, the firm added, citing its ability to comply with the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act . The act came into force in May 2024 to ensure the bloc's access to "secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable" supply of critical raw materials, and it pushes for at least 10pc of critical materials sourced domestically and 40pc transformed locally by 2030. Ecopro completed the construction of its Hungarian plant late last year. The plant is capable of producing 54,000 t/yr of cathode materials and 8,000 t/yr of lithium hydroxide. The firm has plans to double the site's cathode materials production capacity to 108,000 t/yr. The firm in April said full-scale cathode material production at the site is expected to begin in April-June, and it is aiming to secure European customers. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more

Chinese steel mills face tighter credit terms

Related news posts

Brazil renews quota policy for import steel

Brazil renews quota policy for import steel

Australia's BHP iron ore port workers set to strike

Australia's BHP iron ore port workers set to strike

EU SiMn prices unlikely to move on filled quotas

EU SiMn prices unlikely to move on filled quotas

Demand for India Mn alloy export falters, surplus rises

Demand for India Mn alloy export falters, surplus rises

Korea’s Ecopro signs Li hydroxide automaker supply deal

Korea’s Ecopro signs Li hydroxide automaker supply deal

Related Products

Argus Scrap Markets

Argus Scrap Markets

Argus Rare Earths Analytics Service

Argus Rare Earths Analytics Service

Argus Seaborne Coal Outlook

Argus Line Pipe

Argus Battery Materials

Business intelligence reports